KIDS FIREHOUSE MUSEUM IN LARGO, FLORIDA TO LIQUIDATE ASSETS WITH NO RESERVE

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
August 21, 2009

CONTACT: Greg Farner
(727) 548-9303

BAY AREA AUCTION SERVICES
Sale September 15, 2009
Pinellas Park, FL

This will be a once-in-a-lifetime opportunity to acquire vintage fire trucks and memorabilia at live public auction with no reserve.

(Pinellas Park, FL) - Bay Area Auction Services of Pinellas Park, FL will hold a no reserve sale of 132 lots from the Kids Firehouse Museum in Largo, FL on September 15, 2009.

The 9,000 square foot Museum was established in 1994 with the goal of teaching young children the basics of fire safety and prevention in an age-appropriate and fun setting with donations benefiting the “Missing Children’s Awareness Foundation.” Over the years the Museum has acquired an impressive array of firefighting equipment and accessories. The main pieces of firefighting equipment range from the oldest piece in the inventory, an 1875 hand drawn water cannon with hose reel and nozzle from the Boston Fire Department, to a 1965 Ford 1000 Gallon Pumper. The oldest truck in the Museum is a 1924 American La France Pumper with original ladders and toolbox. This chain driven venerable old fire horse last saw service in the Palmetto, FL Fire Department.

Other major pieces of equipment include a 1941 Pirsch Pumper made by Chevrolet donated by the Crestview, FL Fire Department in 1993. This was one of the few fire engines made at the beginning of World War II. It has the original wooden ladders and 113,000 brave miles. A 1950 American International L-185 was donated to the Museum in 1994 by Metal Industries of Clearwater, FL. It had been discovered sitting in a field in northern Florida. A 1951 Seagrave 400B-750 Pumper from Concord, NC comes with a 150 foot brush fire hose and foam firefighting unit along with it dual ignition, twelve cylinder power plant.

A 1954 American La France Hook and Ladder truck, last used by the Indian Rocks, FL Fire Department, has been modified by the Museum for use as workhorse capable of towing any of the other trucks in the Museum. A 1956 Ford Big Job F-750 Pumper from Live Oak, FL served double duty as both a pumper and a hook and ladder. It is fitted with four types of hoses, suction with strainer, 100 ft reel hose, 100 foot fire hose and 50 foot hydrant hose and a Hale pump. A 1956 Pirsch Pumper from Lakeland, FL can pump 1,000 gallons a minute and its 33,000 miles have been powered by a twelve cylinder motor. A 1958 American La France Pumper from Clearwater was one of the first to have an enclosed cab for the firemen’s safety while en route. A 1958 Seagrave Bullet Nose Hook & Ladder, also from Clearwater, is the biggest truck in the Museum and requires two drivers to maneuver in city streets. The sale also includes a 1966 Ford 750 BIS Tub Pumper. All trucks were in running condition when staged for Museum exhibition in 1995 with fluids drained and batteries removed per insurance requirements.

Other items in the sale inventory (many vintage) include an Atlas Life saving Jump net, a large variety of metal and cast fire truck toys, vintage fire hats, fire suits, hydrants and a large selection of vintage equipment including nozzles, alarm pulls, bells, telegraph station, patches, pins and belt buckles.

The sale will be held beginning at 10:00AM Tuesday September 15. Preview is available Monday September 14 1:00-4:00PM and sale day beginning at 8:00AM at the Museum location at 1094 95th St N., Largo, FL 34643. The trucks and select items of the memorabilia will be available for live online bidding at http://www.baaslive.com/. For more information visit the Bay Area Auction services website at http://bayareaauctionservices.com/09-15-09.htm, email bayareaauction@verizon.net or call Bay Area at (727) 548-9303 or (800) 452-3905.

written by:

Fred Taylor

http://www.furnituredetective.com/
800-387-6377

PHOTO CAPTIONS

The oldest engine in the sale is this 1924 American la France Pumper.

This hand drawn water cannon, circa 1875, came from the Boston Fire
Department.

This 1956 Ford F750 Pumper 302, V-8 with 4 speed transmission came from
Live Oak, FL.

This is a 1941 Pirsch Pumper made by Chevrolet.

The biggest truck in the sale is this 1958 Seagrave Hook & Ladder from
Clearwater, FL.

A BIG ROCK, EXOTIC IVORY AND GREAT ART IN WEST PALM BEACH

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
July 31, 2009

CONTACT: BRIAN KOGAN
(561) 805-7115

AUCTION GALLERY OF THE PALM BEACHES
Sales April 20, June 1 and July 13, 2009
West Palm Beach, FL

Auction Gallery of the Palm Beaches put three Spring art and antiques sales back to back to back with outstanding results.

(West Palm Beach, FL) A large ivory collection from a Miami doctor, the result of a thirty year collecting effort, provided the backbone of the June 1 and July 13 sales at Auction Gallery of the Palm Beaches in West Palm Beach, FL. Auction owner Brian Kogan reported brisk sales to numerous Asian collectors with significant online results through Artfact.com.

The June 1 Auction Gallery of the Palm Beaches Sixth Anniversary sale saw a 5 ⅝ in tall Chinese ivory pot brush carved in high relief with elders and attendants climbing rockery with plants and a giant tree, estimated at $800-$1000, close at $1,400. That was followed by a well carved large ivory Rat Zodiac, Chinese, 20th century, signed. The central seated large rat was surrounded by the rest of the figures of the zodiac in high relief. The 4⅛in tall figure, estimated at $600-$700 brought a pleasant closing bid of $1,600 and a group of four carved ivory figures, Chinese, depicting three boys and an elder, all wearing tunics and pants, mounted on wood bases, estimated at $400-$500, sold for $1,500.

From the same collection in the July 13 sale, a fine pair of carved ivory birds, Chinese, late 19th century, with well detailed birds perched on a pine tree branch, 7⅝in H, with carved wood stands brought $2,880, a well carved ivory figure of Shan Lao, Chinese, 19th Century, the immortal with elongated head and flowing beard, wearing a long robe, holding a gnarled staff and a peach, flanked by a crane, made $2,150 and a fine ivory concentric ball and stand, Chinese circa 1850, containing approximately twelve inner loose balls with pierced trellis design, supported by the stand with a standing boy holding a peach below also sold for $2,150.

In the art category the big lot of the April sale was a pair of works by Joseph Groupy (French. 1689-1769), the "Sacrifice of Lystra" and "The Charge to Saint Peter", after Raphael's Tapestry Cartoons, gouache on vellum laid down, each measuring 8¼ by 12¾in, framed. Estimated at $1,000-$1,500 the pair sold for $4,750. In the June sale the top art lot was a Royal Berlin (KPM) porcelain plaque, German, late 19th Century, impressed KPM, scepter mark and "H," of a young beauty in an interior wearing a red dress feeding birds perched on a rod. The 19 by 11½in plaque in a gilt frame sold for $12,000 to a dealer from Dade County, FL. It was followed by a pair of oil on board works called “Venetian Views” by Edward Pritchett (English. 1828-1864), each measuring 7 by 8½in. The pair brought $8,500. The July 13 event boasted an abstarct work by Earl Reiback (American 1948-2006) called “Looking Glass,” a 33¾in circular infinity mirror originally acquired directly from the artist. Estimated at $600-$800, it sold for a surprising bid of $3,600.

But the big hitter of all three sales resulted from a cold call to the Gallery prior to the April sale. A lady wanted to be sure she had the right opinion on her diamond ring. Auction owner Kogan invited the caller to visit the gallery and meet with a gemologist who identified it as a pear shaped diamond in a platinum ring weighing approximately 12.40 carats, J-K color, SI 1 clarity, flanked by two baquettes weighing approximately 1.30 carats of G-H color and VS clarity. Satisfied the lady consigned the ring for sale in the April auction. On sale day a local phone bidder outlasted three other phone bidders and two gallery bidders with the winning bid of $75,000, within the original estimate. Kogan said “Big stone with a big price in hard times. Go figure.”

For more information about these sales and upcoming sales call (561) 805-7115, email info@agopb.com or visit the website at www.agopb.com. The Gallery is located at 1609 South Dixie Hwy, Suite 5, West Palm Beach, Florida 33401.

written by:

Fred Taylor

http://www.furnituredetective.com/

800-387-6377

PHOTO CAPTIONS

This pear shaped 12.4 carat diamond in a platinum ring with baquettes sold for $75,000.

“Looking Glass” by Earl Reiback ( American 1948-2006. $3,600.

HESSAM ABRISHAMI (French. Born 1951)"Hidden Dreams". Signed l/r. Verso signed, dated '02, inscribed "San Diego" and titled by the Artist. Acrylic on Canvas. Measuring 48" by 24". Sold for $5,400.

Superb patinated bronze vase, Japanese. Meiji-Period. 19th Century. Signed. Cast in relief with Kanon, samurai helmet, shi-shi, scrolls and various vases and jardinieres. Height 21". Estimate : $2,000 - $3,000. Sale price $4,800.

Ivory concentric ball and stand, Chinese. Circa 1850. The ball with chrysanthemums containing approximately twelve inner loose balls with pierced trellis design, supported by the stand with a standing boy holding a peach.. Sold for $2,150.